Category: Membership

The Manitoba Library Association is happy to present you their Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Pilot Program.
Our goal is to offer connections and facilitate communication between our members to help them succeed in their library work and grow in their career.

Who can apply?
The program is open to all individual members of the Manitoba Library Association. If you are not already an individual member, you can register at this address: mla.mb.ca/membership/

All types of library workers are welcome to participate: librarians, library technicians, managers, library assistants, directors, etc. All types of libraries are welcome: rural, academic, public, solo and more!

Each pair will establish how often they will communicate, meeting at least once a month, and how they prefer to communicate.

How does it work?
We want to match individuals who think they have experience to share and also want to learn new ways of doing. We are proposing a Peer-to-Peer programming, where we want to connect library members with similar career experiences. You can exchange ideas and find support in your field.

Maybe you mainly work with programming but want to learn more about managing and vice-versa. Or you work solo and need to learn more about running a library. Or you just need to some creative sparks and would like to learn more about generating new ideas.

We will try our best to match with the best person.
The Pilot Program will run from mid-January to mid-June, 2026.

How do I apply?
The deadline to apply is December 10th, 2025.
Please register here via this Google Form:
https://forms.gle/VoDJmHBYTpP7JmS59

An information session for those interested but who might have questions was held and recorded on November 19th, 2025. If you have questions and are interested in the recording, please email: Elise.A@mla.mb.ca for the Zoom link.

June 13, 2025

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Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners!

Posted in Conference, Membership, Scholarships & Awards, and Uncategorized

The Manitoba Library Association was pleased to honour the 2025 Award recipients at this year’s awards luncheon, held on May 7 during the Manitoba Library Conference.

Congratulations to:

Lifetime Library Service Award winner, Heather Graham (Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library)

“Heather is an unwavering pillar of Friends of the Winnipeg Public Library. Before joining the Friends, she devoted decades of service to the Winnipeg Public Library, demonstrating her deep commitment to the community. Today, we continue to rely on her steady guidance and professionalism in every aspect of our work.”

Human Rights Book Award winner, Ebony Novakowski (Red River Polytechnic)

“Ebony is the epitome of a library professional whose daily and ongoing work upholds library values of intellectual freedom while also reflecting the community’s need for inclusive and diverse library spaces.”

Library Service Award winner, Michelle Boudreau (Westman Regional Library)

“At a time when communities grapple with such immense challenges of social isolation, climate change, opposition to diversity, Michelle uses her talent as a library professional and as an artist to connect her community through meaningful programming.”

Library Technician of the Year, Michelle Rondeau (Winnipeg School Division)

“Michelle is an exceptional library technician whose contributions go far beyond the call of duty: (h)er innovative approach to cataloguing, her leadership in professional development[…]she will continue to inspire and impact the field of school libraries for years to come.”

Library Trustee of Distinction, Sharon Fehr (South Central Regional Library (SCRL)

“Not only does Sharon have a wealth of financial expertise with 40 years of experience working in banking, but she has insight into how to make libraries relevant […] She advocates for our libraries by bringing our name to the attention of others who can support us financially, often through grant opportunities.”

February 14, 2025

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MLC 2025 – Registration Open! Keynotes Announced!

Posted in Academic Libraries, Board, Conference, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Trustees

Manitoba Libraries Conference 2025 has opened registration for librarians, library workers, library board members and trustees, authors, publishers, business professionals, educators and students – anyone who is passionate about books, libraries, and eager to learn and shape the future of this incredible profession and service.

It’s our first in-person conference in years and we are excited to reconnect, revisit, and reinspire. We can’t wait to see you!

Early bird registration is now open!

Are you an institutional member? Your institution will need to register for you in bulk. For bulk registration by institutions or for invoicing please contact us.
Are you interested in attending but have barriers?
Check out information about our Conference Bursary. You can apply for a bursary here: here.

Keynotes have been announced!

We are thrilled to have award-winning writer, editor and professor of Indigenous Studies at the University of Manitoba, Niigaan Sinclair as our opening keynote on Tuesday, May 6 at 1:00 pm
Fresh from being named Canada’s Parliamentary Poet Laureate, Chimwemwe Undi will join us at our Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, May 7 at 12:00 pm
And how lucky are we? We will be entertained by Anne-Marie Williott and Ian Cherry as our wandering minstrels during our Wine & Cheese event in our Exhibitor Hall on Tuesday, May 6 at 4:30 pm

Stay tuned for more updates about the programming, special events, and our popular Exhibit Hall!
Our conference website is updated regularly: conference.mla.mb.ca/

November 26, 2024

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Manitoba Libraries Conference – Call for Program Proposals!

Posted in Academic Libraries, Conference, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, Public Libraries, School Libraries, Special Libraries, and Trustees

What Have You Been Up To? Let’s Reconnect!

The Manitoba Libraries Conference will take place May 6-7, 2025 at the RBC Convention Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

We are inviting a Call For Proposals until December 20, 2024

We are excited for our first in-person conference in 6 years and we want to invite you to join us as we reconnect, revisit, and reinspire.

We are all responding to rapid technological changes (Hello AI), and social challenges. This is our opportunity to share our experiences, thoughts, knowledge, and (sometimes hard-earned) wisdom with colleagues.

Please consider putting forward a proposal using this Google Form .

We have many colleagues in a variety of professional settings throughout our province and they’d love to see you and hear from you. We encourage you to submit session proposals in the public, academic and special library stream. We need everyone represented.

In challenging times, we are better together.

_______________________________________________________________________

Proposals can include: Lightning Talks (7-8 minutes); Presentations, Panels and Workshops; (20, 50 or 110 minutes)

Still can’t decide? A little unsure about what (and how) to present?

Here are some tips from the BCLA:

Conference Presentation: Better Practices

(Note the PDF slides in the first video are super helpful.

Submit your proposal today!

Questions? Please reach out to Kirsten Wurmann, MLA Program Coordinator: kirsten.w@mla.mb.ca

November 25, 2024

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Are you the jam to KC’s peanut butter??

Posted in Board, Conference, and Membership

We are still looking for a vice-president! Join in the fun, support Manitoba’s amazing library community, and create meaningful connections as you do it!

Contact us to submit your interest in the role of vice-president (or our advocacy or director-at-large positions here, and check out our conference committee needs too while you’re at it!)

June 27, 2024

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Manitoba Library Association awards its first Human Rights Book Award to Cathy Ching and the South Central Regional Library System!

Posted in Intellectual Freedom, Membership, and Scholarships & Awards

Manitoba libraries are upholding the fundamental values of intellectual freedom, inclusion, and diversity despite recent calls for censorship and the harassment of library workers.

Appreciating this important and yet often unrecognised work, the Manitoba Library Association (MLA) alongside the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers (AMBP) are pleased to announce the inaugural Human Rights Book Award to Cathy Ching and the South Central Regional Library System (SCRL). This award is presented in recognition of their “strong resolve in upholding human rights, inclusivity and equity in library access for their library or in the library community at a local, regional, provincial or national level.”

Ching and her team at SCRL have remained passionately steadfast, and according to their nominator, “remarkably positive throughout their censorship ordeals.” SCRL’s experiences have been shared in the media over the past couple of years and have inspired not only their own community but the entire province with their determination “to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the unrestricted pursuit of knowledge for all individuals, regardless of background or belief.”

The glowing nomination letter also describes Cathy Ching’s willingness to educate and inspire their library peers through conferences and workshops helping to foster a culture of continuous improvement within our professional community.

MLA is proud to celebrate this deserving recipient:

“Cathy is an amazing example of the type of people we need in our communities and libraries now more than ever. Her work and perseverance in the face of adversity is not only inspiring, it’s a loud and bold statement that libraries will always be a safe space and will help echo the voices that need to be heard.”

– KC Bateman, MLA Vice-president

AMBP is awarding Cathy Ching and SCRL, whose service, passion, and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is outstanding among their peers with 15 books from Manitoba publishers.

“The AMBP is proud to support the instatement of the MLA’s Human Rights Book Award. Cathy Ching and the South Central Regional Library System demonstrate an unwavering commitment to keeping our libraries a welcoming, safe space for all.”

– Chelsey Young, AMBP

Both MLA and AMBP send heartfelt congratulations to our very first and very deserving award winner.

March 27, 2024

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New Award announcement! Human Rights Book Award

Posted in Membership, and Scholarships & Awards

MLA and the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers are pleased to announce a new award in support and recognition of Manitoba libraries hard work to uphold library values of intellectual freedom while at the same time reflecting their community’s need for inclusive and diverse library spaces.

This annual award will give 15 books from Manitoba publishers to an individual or library whose service, passion, and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion is outstanding among their peers.

This individual or library will have demonstrated strong resolve in upholding human rights, inclusivity and equity in library access for their library or in the library community at a local, regional, provincial or national level.

The Award will recognize ongoing work or an outstanding accomplishment at a point in time.

How to Make a Nomination

Nominations should be submitted using the MLA Award Nomination Form.
A letter of nomination must accompany the form and should illustrate why the nominee should be considered for the award.
Members can self-nominate.
All submissions need to be received via email to awards@mla.mb.ca

All nominators should be members of the Manitoba Library Association.

The deadline for the 2024 award is May 1, 2024.

February 16, 2024

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Value Statement and Code of Conduct approved by the MLA Board of Directors

Posted in Board, and Membership

At the February 15, 2024 meeting of the Manitoba Library Association board of directors, there was a motion to approve a value statement and code of conduct for membership. The motion was approved unanimously.

When applying for or renewing MLA membership, members will now need to accept the value statement and agree to the code of conduct.

You can read the value statement and code of conduct here.

February 2, 2024

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Still looking! Prairie Rep for the CFLA-FCAB Board of Directors

Posted in CFLA-FCAB, and Membership

The Canadian Federation of Library Associations/Fédération canadienne des associations de bibliothèques (CFLA-FCAB) still needs Manitoba Library Association’s nomination for our Prairie Representative for the 2024 CFLA-FCAB Board of Directors.

Please consider putting your name forward or encouraging a colleague to stand for the nomination!

WHO MAY BE NOMINATED
Article 32 of The Federation’s By-laws specify the Board composition. In order to be nominated, a candidate must be a member in good standing of a member organization of the Corporation. Because the Federation represents associations it is important that nominees effectively represent and are connected with the association(s) they represent.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD
The CFLA-FCAB Board is responsible for the strategic and professional direction of the Federation. It establishes strategic priorities and maintains oversight over the activities, finances and governance of the organization.

Board members are expected to make themselves available for regular teleconference meetings (currently held monthly). Business will be conducted in between meetings by email and teleconference.

HOW DO I NOMINATE A CANDIDATE?
An authorized signatory or designate of the Member organization will nominate in writing the candidate to the CFLA-FCAB Nominations Committee. Please complete the form on page 5 found in the full document found here: Nomination Form (page 5)

Send your nomination to Michael/Michelle Rogowski, Executive Director (mrogowski@cfla-fcab.ca) for CFLA-FCAB.

Download and read the full Call for Nominations document here: MB-SK-2024-FederationNominationCalls.docx (1) (1)

January 22, 2024

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Manitoba Libraries: Supporting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Training Workshop Series

Posted in Board, Library Technicians, Membership, Professional Development, and Trustees

Attention members! Another great training opportunity for you!

These workshop sessions will be presented by Laurelle Harris, Equitable Solutions

March 4, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) Introduction to +Anti-racism and Equity

March 18, 2024 (10 am – 12 pm via Zoom) The Library as a Site for Social Justice – Putting It All Together: Supporting Equity

Training is FREE for MLA members – there is an option to sign up for membership to get the training for free – otherwise it is $20 per person/per session.

Attendance at both sessions is *strongly* encouraged.
Register here: https://forms.gle/Z9tGaetXKVo5QnH78

*Financially Supported by: